Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has drawn criticism from fans and media after abruptly ending an on-field interview with ESPN immediately following the Longhorns' 24-23 upset victory over No. 1 Ohio State. The win was secured by 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, orchestrated by quarterback Arch Manning.
As ESPN reporter Holly Rowe attempted to interview Sarkisian amidst the on-field celebrations, he shouted "Texas fight. That's called Texas fight. Hook 'Em!" and made a Longhorns hand gesture before walking away. He offered no commentary on the game or the pivotal comeback. Rowe appeared visibly frustrated by the interaction, and online reactions echoed her sentiment, with some fans calling Sarkisian's behavior "classless."
One commenter noted the contrast with quarterback Arch Manning, who engaged in a post-game interview, stating, "Manning took the time to talk. But Shark couldn't? Classless." Another fan, while expressing support for Sarkisian, admitted, "I can't defend that behavior."
The post-game interaction followed a similarly awkward moment at halftime. With Texas trailing 20-3, ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutledge was prepared to interview Sarkisian as he entered the locker room. However, he ran past her, prompting Rutledge to explain to the broadcast that he had to leave quickly.
Rutledge later clarified that Sarkisian had indeed declined the halftime interview due to technical issues and that he had waited patiently and apologized for the delay, stating that ESPN owed him an apology. She assured viewers that Sarkisian "had been very patient" and "apologized."
In his post-game press conference, Sarkisian reflected on his team's mindset, emphasizing their ability to overcome adversity. "We talk a lot about this in here as a team: you know, life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you react to it," he said. "We just hammered that on everybody. Focus on the 90%. Leave the 10% at the first half. Let's focus on the 90%. What are we going to do about it in the second half?"
Meanwhile, Arch Manning discussed the significance of the win, stating, "We couldn't lose to them again. I had nightmares about that game last year. It wasn't pretty but we found a way to win."